For people too lazy to click, the second post was: > I think it’s time for the B...

bennyp101 · 2025-12-18T14:05:15 1766066715

"then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament" - that's the bit that probably set it in motion

brigandish · 2025-12-18T14:05:31 1766066731

The US has a three part test[1] for what constitutes incitement:

- intent

- imminence

- likelihood

If the UK had speech protections like the US (which I wish they would) then it would fail the imminence and probably the likelihood tests (you rightly note that it is ineffective).

[1] https://uslawexplained.com/incitement

josteink · 2025-12-18T15:07:48 1766070468

These tweets had 33 views. At least before being made a charge.

I think that puts the likelihood-factor at zero.

46996435797643 · 2025-12-18T14:47:30 1766069250

Sounds fine.

MangoToupe · 2025-12-18T13:55:07 1766066107

This is an convictable crime in the US. Inciting violence is emphatically not protected speech.

jandrewrogers · 2025-12-18T15:22:44 1766071364

This is definitely not a crime in the US per the US Supreme Court. Several additional conditions not in evidence are required for speech of this type to fall outside of First Amendment protections.

MangoToupe · 2025-12-18T16:52:36 1766076756

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/373

> Several additional conditions not in evidence are required for speech of this type to fall outside of First Amendment protections.

Perhaps your point would be clearer if you indicated what specific conditions you believe are missing. Maybe the tweeter had no followers? Idk, I can only vaguely guess at what you're referring to.

fao_ · 2025-12-18T16:09:59 1766074199

The Something Awful Forums got investigated by the FBI after one or two people posted threats about the current president.

So, uh, yes. It's definitely something that the federal authorities take a dim view on.

brigandish · 2025-12-19T04:27:27 1766118447

You're mixing up "take a dim view" on and investigation, with charging and conviction.

MangoToupe · 2025-12-20T04:03:32 1766203412

Inciting violence is certainly an arrestable offence, and likely convictable. What hill are you trying to die on?

brigandish · 2025-12-20T15:52:04 1766245924

The hill where take a dim view on and investigation are distinct from charging and conviction, because they are.

You would also have to contend with the problem where you've decided that it is incitement, as if conviction is a formality, even though:

- investigation

- charging

- court process

all come before conviction, which is convenient but not particularly bright or persuasive when they're mentioned in the comment you replied to.

joe463369 · 2025-12-18T19:07:35 1766084855

It didn't happen in the US though, so that's neither here nor there. America's political system is not some benchmark that the rest of the world needs to judge themselves against.